Read the passage. Then answer the
questions below.
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to the article “Protecting
Our Public Spaces” in issue 14, published this spring. In it, the author claims
that “all graffiti is vandalism, pure and simple, and offers no benefit to our
public spaces.” I would like to point out that many people believe that
graffiti is an art form that can benefit our public spaces just as much as
sculpture, fountains, or other, more accepted art forms.
People who object to graffiti usually do so more
because of where it is, not what it is. They argue, as your
author does, that posting graffiti in public places constitutes an illegal act
of property damage. But the location of such graffiti should not prevent the images
themselves from being considered genuine art.
I would argue that graffiti is the ultimate public art
form. Spray paint is a medium unlike any other. Through graffiti, the entire
world has become a canvas. No one has to pay admission or travel to a museum to
see this kind of art. The artists usually do not receive payment for their
efforts. These works of art dotting the urban landscape are available, free of
charge, to everyone who passes by. To be clear, I do not consider random words
or names sprayed on stop signs to be art. Plenty of graffiti is just vandalism,
pure and simple. However, there is also graffiti that is breathtaking in its
intricate detail, its realism, or its creativity. It takes great talent to
create such involved designs with spray paint. Are these creators not artists
just because they use a can of spray paint instead of a paintbrush, or because
they cover the side of a building rather than a canvas?
To declare that all graffiti is vandalism, and nothing
more, is an overly simplistic statement that I find out of place in such a
thoughtful publication as your magazine. Furthermore, graffiti is not going
anywhere, so we might as well find a way to live with it and enjoy its
benefits. One option could be to make a percentage of public space, such as
walls or benches in parks, open to graffiti artists. By doing this, the public
might feel like part owners of these works of art, rather than just the victims
of a crime.
Regards,
Derrick Milton
Questions
1) In his
letter, Derrick Milton argues that graffiti
A. is the only art form that is free
B. provides more public benefits than sculpture or
fountains do
C. is best viewed on public walls rather than canvas
D. should be judged on its artistic qualities rather
than its location
2) Based on
information in the passage, it can be understood that the author of the article
“Protecting Our Public Spaces” apparently believes that graffiti
A. is a not an art form
B. can only sometimes be considered a work of art
C. should be restricted to places where it is allowed
D. is too simple to be considered art
3) According
to Derrick Milton, random words sprayed on stop signs are not
A. vandalism
B. art
C. illegal
D. creative
4) Based on
its use in paragraph 4, which of the following accurately describes something
that is intricate?
A. Everyone was amazed to see the hot air balloon
finally swell with air and lift off over the trees.
B. On the enormous billboard, a painted can of soda
stood nearly 12 feet high.
C. The photograph was so sharply focused that you
could see the individual eyelashes on the subjects’ faces.
D. The maze had many different paths that curled
around each other in a complicated pattern.
5) Which
sentence from the passage best illustrates the author’s feelings about graffiti
art?
A. “I would like to point out that many people believe
that graffiti is an art form that can benefit our public spaces just as much as
sculpture, fountains, or other, more accepted art forms.”
B. “People who object to graffiti usually do so more
because of where it is, not what it is.”
C. “Spray paint is a medium unlike any other.”
D. “To declare that all graffiti is vandalism, and
nothing more, is an overly simplistic statement that I find out of place in
such a thoughtful publication as your magazine.”
6) In
paragraph 4, Derrick Milton states, “Plenty of graffiti is just vandalism, pure
and simple.” He most likely makes this statement in order to
A. agree with the author of “Protect Our Public Spaces”
B. clarify the limits of his position
C. support his overall argument
D. summarize the counterargument to his own position
7) Derrick
Milton concludes his letter by
A. criticizing the magazine
B. offering a solution
C. restating his position
D.
identifying the benefits of graffiti
